Abstract: The evolution and co-occurrence of equids in Europe during the Upper Pleistocene (125?10 ka) is a research line that has generated much debate owing to the difficulties in distinguishing between species. Here, we present a study of the dental remains of equids, dated by radiocarbon at ~34.6 (~39.6 cal) ka BP, from Terrasses de la Riera dels Canyars (Barcelona, NE Iberian Peninsula), a site where numerous remains of Equus hydruntinus and Equus ferus have been identified. Our observations indicate that combining measurements and morphological features, as opposed to their separate application, is useful for identifying Pleistocene equids at the species level. We identify seven morphological features to distinguish between the two species: four on the upper teeth ? i) the shape of the protocone; ii) the presence/absence of a pli caballine; iii) the presence/absence of grooves in the styles; and, iv) the shape of the hypocone ? and three on the lower dentition ? v) the shape of the entoflexid; vi) the depth of the ectoflexid; and, vii) the presence/absence of the pticostylid fold. The identification of E. hydruntinus by dentition at the site reinforces evidence for the presence of these small equids during the Heinrich Stadial 4 in the Iberian Peninsula. The multi-proxy data (including phytoliths, charcoal, pollen, tooth wear, small and large mammals) obtained at Canyars suggest that E. hydruntinus of the NE Iberian Peninsula inhabited steppe-dominated landscapes with a Mediterranean component, indicating a less rigorous climate than that of more northern latitudes.

Autoría

Descargar referencia